Open Source Payroll Systems

While relatively new, Open Source Payroll systems are gaining traction due to the inherent alternative this type of software brings to the table. Seated in direct competition with established payroll software giants, these business software applications provide companies with the ability to alter the technology and underlying source code to meet all manner of industry-specific, regulatory, or organizational requirements. Regardless of whether reasons revolve around flexibility or financial constraints, open source payroll software offers a viable and valid choice that falls outside of traditional proprietary vendor options.

Open Source Payroll Software

With lower acquisition costs, flexible extensibility options, a growing number of emerging delivery channels, freedom from vendor lock-in and online ecosystems of integrated third party developed products, open source payroll software is stacked with potential benefits for the right organization. This forum focuses squarely on open source payroll application news, views, and research.

Featured Open Source Payroll Reviews

TimeTrex is an established open source solution that combines time-tracking and payroll. While most attention falls to the freeware version, commercial options are also available that offer varying support packages and a range of options for all requirements. This brief review of TimeTrex covers the gamut of what this open source payroll solution can offer both on-demand and on-premise.

OpenPro is a US-based open source ERP vendor whose function-laden Enterprise edition includes a fully-featured payroll module. With decades of experience, this family-run firm is aiming for a global presence in the ERP market; however, companies seeking greater functionality may find OpenPro’s open source payroll to be lacking. Read on to see how this solution stacks up.

Featured Payroll Software Articles

Once your organization has weighed the pros & cons, and decided on the open source route for payroll automation, the fact of the matter is that your organization will be confronted with certain issues as part of this payroll software selection process. In fact, as we discuss here, choosing open source software hinges on the issues of licensing, ongoing support, vendor stability and cost.

Much to the chagrin of open source payroll software providers, customer uptake and adoption of these technologies has fallen drastically behind the applications associated with HR, CRM, and ERP. Of the many reasons for this disparity may be varied, one of the most obvious is the lack of choices that companies seeking open source payroll solutions face.

The number of open source payroll options is growing; prompting some companies to seek open source as a central tenet of their future HR and IT strategies. However, adoption of any new software carries risks and open source is no exception. This article outlines the four key open source strategic threats and recommendations for their minimization.

With the ongoing debate over the use of open source software for mission-critical applications the question of open source payroll is rarely directly referenced even though the marketplace features a number of options. With help from a recent Ernst & Young report, this article outlines the major pitfalls that must negotiated if an organization is truly going to make its payroll “open”.

The “free” image of open source payroll software often misleads users into lax practices. In actuality, open source payroll solutions are distributed under strict licensing requirements that can have significant consequences if an organization wishes to take advantage of access to the source code. This article outlines those licenses and the importance of copyright and compliance.

The presence of open source software in the business application market is steadily growing and is receiving serious attention from organizations and analysts alike, especially when applied to mission-critical functions such as payroll processing and human resource management. This article, takes a look at the three core issues to work through when considering going “open”.